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Soho Big Issue seller André is on a mission to publish his novel – here’s how you can get involved

The London vendor said: “This book turns an acid eye on homelessness, street life, and society’s decidedly mixed reaction.”

Meet André Rostant. He’s a Big Issue seller and previous London marathon runner, who’s close to publishing a “social commentary novel”.

Rostant can usually be found at his pitch on Carnaby Street in central London selling magazines to the public. But he’s also just finished a book called The Muffin Man.

It is a story that plunges the reader into London’s bohemian Soho, seen from the viewpoint of people who live and work on the streets.

He says it “turns an acid eye on homelessness, street life, and society’s decidedly mixed reaction… You will never look at a bag lady, street beggar or Big Issue seller in the same way again.”

As well as writing the book, Rostant has also launched a crowdfunding campaign to support the book’s publication. He needs £2000, and, at the time of writing, has achieved over half of that.

He told The Big Issue, “So far so good, but I don’t want to lose momentum. I am really excited about the book and grateful that people are getting behind it.”

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Anything raised above the target £2000 will be split 50/50 between promoting the novella, and a donation to the Big Issue Foundation.

The Muffin Man will be published by Arkbound, and you can support it through Crowdbound.

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With our online vendor map, you can support a local vendor by supplementing their income with a subscription to Big Issue. For every annual subscription sold via a vendor, a vendor receives £50.

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